Chapter 37: Fruit

"What is this?" Shen Tang leaned over, greatly surprised: "I've never seen this before. Such dense life energy..."

Du Gu Qingli turned it over and over, looking thoughtful: "If my guess is correct, this could be some kind of demon core that has been artificially modified. Although its form and aura have changed, the essence of life remains; that cannot be altered."

Shen Tang was somewhat delighted: "Is this suitable for refining the pill to cure Lu Xingzhou's leg?"

Du Gu Qingli couldn't figure out how one could come up with a train of thought that thought of others' usefulness whenever anything happened, and simply said, "I am not a pill master. You can ask him yourself. Just because something matches in attributes doesn't mean it's suitable for pill refining; these are two different things. Don't forget the Cold Glowing Grass."

Shen Tang choked slightly, then thought for a moment: "Was that person just now from the Netherworld Hall?"

"We didn't engage directly, so it's hard to make a rash judgment. We can only say it resembles them."

Both were completely baffled and somewhat stunned.

Lu Xingzhou being a judge of the Netherworld Hall was certainly correct, but not everyone in the Netherworld Hall was necessarily his former subordinate; there were also enemies. No one could guess what attributes that person truly had, let alone whether they were even from the Netherworld Hall.

Whether this was intentionally left behind for Lu Xingzhou or accidentally dropped during a frantic escape could not be determined, especially since it was unknown whether it was even suitable for pill refining.

Shen Tang took the fruit: "I'll go ask him."

Du Gu Qingli had a feeling that Shen Tang was just making an excuse to talk to him... Clearly the fruit was in her hands; did she need to wheel herself over in a wheelchair? Wasn't that tiring?

Never mind. If you want to go, go. I'll go practice my cultivation.

At this moment, Lu Xingzhou was not resting. He had spread out a sheet of manuscript paper, writing and sketching, pondering how to complete the final medicine for Shen Tang.

Since Old Butler Huo had already used a day's worth of medicine, he needed to replenish it for Shen Tang. Although Shen Tang didn't need it as urgently anymore, it was good to see things through to the end.

From these medicines of Old Butler Huo, he had also gained some inspiration. If he could refine them well, they would certainly be effective for himself as well, which was very important.

"No matter how much I ponder, I'm still missing one auxiliary herb for flesh and blood regeneration. Such things are truly hard to find in Xiazhou. However, if the quality requirements aren't that high, unlike before when only a few specific types were allowed, the range is much broader. Sending someone to the prefecture to look should find it..."

A Nuo asked, "What about the other medicines?"

"Take the other medicines directly from Shen Tang's storage. If they aren't there, have them go buy some."

"Using her storage directly now? This isn't just helping herself get cured, you know."

"What's wrong? I didn't charge her for curing the leg; is it wrong to take some medicinal materials?"

"But you did take the leg."

A dry cough from Shen Tang came from outside the door. A Nuo hurriedly went out to greet her, pushing her wheelchair like a sycophant and smiling apologetically: "When did the Sect Master arrive..."

"Right when you said he took the leg." Shen Tang found it somewhat amusing: "What's with this sycophantic look of yours?"

A Nuo smiled apologetically: "Now that Master is a guest elder, the Sect Master is our benefactor, after all..."

Shen Tang looked at Lu Xingzhou with a half-smile: "Is this how you define our relationship to your disciple?"

Lu Xingzhou was at a loss for words: "I didn't say anything to her."

A Nuo's eyes rolled around; it wasn't because of the benefactor thing at all. It was because this person might soon become a stepmother, so she needed to curry favor.

They say if you get a stepmother, you'll soon get a stepfather...

Back then, it was A Nuo who saw you sitting pitifully by the cliff edge and asked Master to pull you up...

Shen Tang didn't drag things out, directly taking out the fruit: "Is this useful for your pill refining?"

Lu Xingzhou took it with surprise, examined it, and was extremely shocked: "This... this fruit is not only beneficial for flesh and blood regeneration; it also contains very pure energy. It is an excellent material for refining pills that increase cultivation. If this were to be graded, I'd say it's Fourth Grade. What kind of fruit is this..."

Shen Tang hesitated for a moment and didn't mention Du Gu Qingli's judgment that this might be a demon core. After all, many people had a squeamishness about demon-related things and refused to use them, and besides, Qingli was only guessing; it might not be correct.

She simply asked, "Are you sure it's effective for pill refining?"

"Yes." Lu Xingzhou was extremely delighted: "Not only will it perfectly make up for what you were missing, but there's also a great chance for my own injuries. This isn't just about curing a severed tendon!"

Shen Tang let out a sigh of relief: "As long as it's useful, that's good. I was afraid I'd be happy for nothing."

"But I truly don't recognize this thing." Lu Xingzhou turned the fruit over and over, sighing somewhat: "I have seen many rare creature atlases in the Netherworld Hall and thought my knowledge was rich enough. It seems learning truly has no limits; there are countless rare things in the world, far more than I could have seen in those few years. By the way, where did you get this?"

Shen Tang told the truth: "Just now, a suspected assassin was stopped by me and Qingli. He dropped it while fleeing. Neither Qingli nor I could determine whether it was intentionally left behind or truly lost."

Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment but couldn't figure it out completely. Actually, he was too lazy to think too much about it; the surprise of this item was too intense: "Regardless of which it is, it is still something you obtained. The definition of 'benefactor' doesn't seem wrong either; look, aren't we being kept by you..."

Shen Tang spat: "So you really aren't a good person."

What good person would say such teasing words and deliberately touch me more?

Lu Xingzhou was in an extremely good mood and said with a smile: "Who told you that a person who is a judge in the Netherworld Hall is a good person... You still have a chance to kick me out now; delay and it may be too late."

Shen Tang rolled her eyes at him: "Just prepare the medicine. If you need any other auxiliary herbs, say it quickly, and I'll have someone go find them."

Lu Xingzhou pondered for a moment and wrote a list: "This is for you; prepare it first. Mine is a bit more complex. Based on this new medicinal material, I need to consider how to combine it; I'm afraid it won't just require refining one type of pill."

Shen Tang took the list. Seeing the unprecedented brightness and hope in Lu Xingzhou's eyes, she couldn't help but feel a small flutter in her heart.

Ten years of expectation; truly a kind of obsession. He could give the life-saving medicine to A Nuo and the tendon-repairing medicine to her, Shen Tang, yet the disappointment and sorrow suppressed in his heart were truly hard to express. But on the surface, he hid it so well it couldn't be seen until this moment, when it all suddenly showed.

As they looked at each other, both recalled the moment of empathy at their first meeting, the "they are like me" thought that had passed through their hearts at that instant.

Until now, both had hope for improvement.

A Nuo sat to the side, resting her chin on her hand, watching. She seemed to be witnessing a process of mutual redemption and silently sighed in her heart.

"No matter how difficult, as long as there is hope, that's good." Shen Tang felt she had many words to say, but they all got stuck in her throat and couldn't come out. Finally, they turned into one sentence: "I will wait for you. We will stand up side by side together."

"Mm." Lu Xingzhou's eyes sparkled: "I will."

Actually, Shen Tang originally wanted to ask about Lu Xingzhou's next development plan for her merchant guild, but thinking it wasn't the right time to distract him, she didn't say more: "Then you ponder it; I'll have someone gather the medicinal materials first."

A short while later, the medicinal materials were gathered. Shen Tang didn't leave immediately but sat to the side, watching Lu Xingzhou sort the herbs.

The ratio for pill refining differs from the requirements for ordinary medicine dispensing. Generally, when a doctor dispenses medicine, getting the weight of a certain herb to a few qian is enough; it doesn't need to be precise to the last hair's breadth. But for pills, it's different; if there is even the slightest error, it could lead to the failure to refine the pill or even an exploding furnace. How to sort the herbs meticulously without error is a mandatory course for every apprentice.

Shen Tang watched with interest. She had thought that a pill master at Lu Xingzhou's level wouldn't need to be so cautious about such extremely basic matters, but he was still very attentive and focused. He even took out a scale of artifact grade, being very careful.

When Bai Chi was hired back then, everyone had seen him refine pills. Bai Chi was obviously much more casual about this than Lu Xingzhou, often weighing things by hand.

Perhaps this is one of the important factors why Lu Xingzhou's level of pill refining can surpass Bai Chi, who came from a famous family.

She didn't disturb him further and left quickly, summoning Elder Tang Yunzhong: "Uncle Zhong, what is the current situation of the Danxia Sect?"

Tang Yunzhong said, "Liu Qingcang died at the Huo residence. The Danxia Sect definitely cannot be sustained relying on Liu Yan'er alone. Now, the members of the Danxia Sect are discussing; they say Bai Chi suggested Liu Yan'er sell the sect and return with her to the Burning Fragrance Pavilion."

"Then let's hope Bai Chi treats Liu Yan'er sincerely; otherwise, this girl's future days will not be easy." Shen Tang sighed: "Although this girl is a bit arrogant, she hasn't actually made any major mistakes."

Tang Yunzhong looked at Shen Tang somewhat strangely and hesitated: "Sect Master..."

"What?"

"You've become much softer-hearted these days."

"Ah? Really? I don't hold back when I kill people."

Tang Yunzhong lowered his voice: "Are you really letting Lu Xingzhou issue the Sect Master's decree? Isn't that too rash..."

"If we speak of the assessment, hasn't this period been enough... his character has been proven over these days."

Tang Yunzhong hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

What he wanted to say wasn't about character in that regard... Honestly, he observed that Lu Xingzhou was quite good, the kind who repays kindness and even doubles it, no problem. But the issue was, was the Sect Master and he getting too close? After all, you are a young maiden...

But this was really hard to say much about, so he simply asked: "If Liu Yan'er truly sells the Danxia Gang's assets, should we buy them?"

Shen Tang hesitated somewhat.

Putting aside the pill-refining industry ruined by Lu Xingzhou, the Danxia Gang was originally a group of herb peddlers who planted and sold medicinal herbs; the entire Danxia Mountain was a medicinal mountain, considered a high-quality asset, including the gang members and enforcers who were not weak. If it were before, Shen Tang would have bought them without a second thought, but whether the current development plan still suits this path requires consulting Lu Xingzhou.

With thoughts in mind, she spoke directly: "Regarding the current development plan, I have already entrusted Lu Xingzhou as an advisor; I will go ask him about this."

Tang Yunzhong finally couldn't help but stomp his foot: "You just left his room, and now you're going back in; you might as well just live inside!"

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(End of Chapter)